Crime
23-year-old Lance Morales wanted for the murder of Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz
Police warned that he might also have access to other vehicles.
Hartford police are urgently searching for a man considered armed and extremely dangerous following a devastating shooting Tuesday afternoon that claimed the lives of a 20-year-old Massachusetts woman and her infant son.
The tragedy unfolded around 2:30 p.m. on New Britain Avenue, near Hillside Avenue and Zion Street.
According to investigators, a vehicle pulled up alongside the victims’ car and opened fire before speeding away.
The victims, identified as Jessiah Mercado, 20, and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, both from Springfield, Massachusetts, were rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to their injuries.
A third victim, a man in his 20s, sustained a gunshot wound but is expected to recover. The driver of the victims’ car was not injured.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 23-year-old Lance “Macho” Morales, whose last known address is in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Morales is believed to have fled the scene in a white Infiniti Q-70 bearing Massachusetts license plate 3NEB35.
Police warned that he might also have access to other vehicles.
Preliminary investigations suggest the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a vehicle.
Interim Police Chief Kenny Howell issued a direct plea to Morales, saying, “Lance, you have no other option but to hand yourself in to the Hartford Police Department for the horrific crimes you have committed. You have taken the lives of an infant and his mother. We do not tolerate that in this city.”
The Hartford Police Department is urging anyone with information about Morales’ whereabouts to contact them immediately. This tragic case remains under active investigation.
Crime
Brandy Manville Fatally Shot by Husband Charles Manville, Who Died by Suicide, Daughter Injured in Shooting
The situation escalated when the man armed himself with a firearm and was overheard by dispatchers saying, “Everyone is going to die,” followed by gunfire.
On Friday, November 29, 2024, at approximately 7:41 p.m., officers from the Portage Police Department responded to reports of a domestic disturbance on the 6300 block of Monument Avenue.
According to the initial 911 call, the complainant reported her father was intoxicated and throwing items inside the residence.
The situation escalated when the man armed himself with a firearm and was overheard by dispatchers saying, “Everyone is going to die,” followed by gunfire.
As officers arrived on the scene, they heard additional gunshots from inside the home.
A tactical team, comprising officers from multiple agencies, entered the residence, where they made a grim discovery:
- Charles Manville, 45, was found deceased with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Brandy Manville, 46, was located deceased with apparent gunshot wounds.
- Hayleigh Manville, 21, was discovered alive but suffering from critical gunshot injuries.
Officers immediately rendered medical aid to the surviving victim, who was initially transported to a nearby hospital by Portage Fire Department medical personnel and later airlifted to a trauma center by Lutheran Air.
She remains hospitalized in stable but critical condition.
No other individuals were found in the residence, and no officers discharged their weapons during the response.
Investigators believe this tragedy was confined to those involved and poses no ongoing threat to the community. At this time, the surviving victim has been unable to provide a statement, and the motive for the shooting remains unknown.
Brandy Manville was a dedicated administrative assistant in the main office of Portage High School. In response to this tragic event, Portage Township Schools will offer counseling services for students and staff starting Monday morning.
The Portage Police Department expressed gratitude to the Portage Fire Department, Lutheran Air, and the officers from the Burns Harbor, Ogden Dunes Police Departments, and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department for their prompt response and assistance during the incident.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victims of this devastating crime. We also pray for the full recovery of the surviving victim, whose name we are withholding out of respect for her privacy,” a department spokesperson stated.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to work toward understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic event.